Information Technology Act, 2000

Bare act text of all 125 sections of the IT Act.

Chapter I: Preliminary

SectionTitle / Offence
1Short title, extent, commencement and application
2Definitions

Chapter II: Digital Signature and Electronic Signature

SectionTitle / Offence
3Authentication of electronic records
3AElectronic signature

Chapter III: Electronic Governance

SectionTitle / Offence
4Legal recognition of electronic records
5Legal recognition of electronic signatures
6Use of electronic records and electronic signatures in Government and its agencies
6ADelivery of services by service provider
7Retention of electronic records
7AAudit of documents, etc., maintained in electronic form
8Publication of rule, regulation, etc., in Electronic Gazette
9Sections 6, 7 and 8 not to confer right to insist document should be accepted in electronic form
10Power to make rules by Central Government in respect of electronic signature
10AValidity of contracts formed through electronic means

Chapter IV: Attribution, Acknowledgement and Despatch of Electronic Records

SectionTitle / Offence
11Attribution of electronic records
12Acknowledgment of receipt
13Time and place of despatch and receipt of electronic record

Chapter V: Secure Electronic Records and Secure Electronic Signature

SectionTitle / Offence
14Secure electronic record
15Secure electronic signature
16Security procedures and practices

Chapter VI: Regulation of Certifying Authorities

SectionTitle / Offence
17Appointment of Controller and other officers
18Functions of Controller
19Recognition of foreign Certifying Authorities
20[Omitted.]
21Licence to issue electronic signature Certificates
22Application for licence
23Renewal of licence
24Procedure for grant or rejection of licence
25Suspension of licence
26Notice of suspension or revocation of licence
27Power to delegate
28Power to investigate contraventions
29Access to computers and data
30Certifying Authority to follow certain procedures
31Certifying Authority to ensure compliance of the Act, etc
32Display of licence
33Surrender of licence
34Disclosure

Chapter VII: Electronic Signature Certificates

SectionTitle / Offence
35Certifying authority to issue electronic signature Certificate
36Representations upon issuance of Digital Signature Certificate
37Suspension of Digital Signature Certificate
38Revocation of Digital Signature Certificate
39Notice of suspension or revocation

Chapter VIII: Duties of Subscribers

SectionTitle / Offence
40Generating key pair
40ADuties of subscriber of Electronic Signature Certificate
41Acceptance of Digital Signature Certificate
42Control of private key

Chapter IX: Penalties, Compensation and Adjudication

SectionTitle / Offence
43Penalty and compensation for damage to computer, computer system, etc
43ACompensation for failure to protect data
44Penalty for failure to furnish information, return, etc
45Residuary penalty
46Power to adjudicate
47Factors to be taken into account by the adjudicating officer

Chapter X: Appellate Tribunal

SectionTitle / Offence
48Establishment of Appellate Tribunal
49[Omitted.]
50[Omitted.]
51[Omitted.]
52[Omitted.]
52A[Omitted.]
52B[Omitted.]
52C[Omitted.]
52DDecision by majority
53[Omitted.]
54[Omitted.]
55Orders constituting Appellate Tribunal to be final and not to invalidate its proceedings
56[Omitted.]
57Appeal to Appellate Tribunal
58Procedure and powers of the Appellate Tribunal
59Right to legal representation
60Limitation
61Civil court not to have jurisdiction
62Appeal to High Court
63Compounding of contraventions
64Recovery of penalty or compensation

Chapter XI: Offences

SectionTitle / Offence
65Tampering with computer source documents
66Computer related offences
66A[Omitted.]
66BPunishment for dishonestly receiving stolen computer resource or communication device
66CPunishment for identity theft
66DPunishment for cheating by personation by using computer resource
66EPunishment for violation of privacy
66FPunishment for cyber terrorism
67Punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form
67APunishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc., in electronic form
67BPunishment for publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit act, etc., in electronic form
67CPreservation and retention of information by intermediaries
68Power of Controller to give directions
69Power to issue directions for interception or monitoring or decryption of any information through any computer resource
69APower to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource
69BPower to authorise to monitor and collect traffic data or information through any computer resource for cyber security
70Protected system
70ANational nodal agency
70BIndian Computer Emergency Response Team to serve as national agency for incident response
71Penalty for misrepresentation
72Penalty for Breach of confidentiality and privacy
72APenalty for disclosure of information in breach of lawful contract
73Penalty for publishing electronic signature Certificate false in certain particulars
74Publication for fraudulent purpose
75Act to apply for offence or contravention committed outside India
76Confiscation
77Compensation, penalties or confiscation not to interfere with other punishment
77ACompounding of offences
77BOffences with three years imprisonment to be bailable
78Power to investigate offences

Chapter XII: Intermediaries not to be Liable in Certain Cases

SectionTitle / Offence
79Exemption from liability of intermediary in certain cases

Chapter XIIA: Examiner of Electronic Evidence

SectionTitle / Offence
79ACentral Government to notify Examiner of Electronic Evidence

Chapter XIII: Miscellaneous

SectionTitle / Offence
80Power of police officer and other officers to enter, search, etc
81Act to have overriding effect
81AApplication of the Act to electronic cheque and truncated cheque
82Controller, Deputy Controller and Assistant Controller to be public servants
83Power to give directions
84Protection of action taken in good faith
84AModes or methods for encryption
84BPunishment for abetment of offences
84CPunishment for attempt to commit offences
85Offences by companies
86Removal of difficulties
87Power of Central Government to make rules
88Constitution of Advisory Committee
89Power of Controller to make regulations
90Power of State Government to make rules
91[Omitted.]
92[Omitted.]
93[Omitted.]
94[Omitted.]

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.